Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Tim Nelson
St. Paul, Minn.

Mpls. may be close to scoring a Major League Soccer team (or not)

Commissioner Don Garber
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber speaks before unveiling the new MLS logo during an event in New York on Sept. 18. 2014.
Jewel Samad | AFP | Getty Images 2014

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

With Las Vegas out of the running, it seems like Minneapolis is a big step closer to winning a Major League Soccer franchise. But that depends on how many teams the league is really considering.

Minneapolis was one of three that presented expansion bids to the league in New York in November for two franchises.

MLS commissioner Don Garber sent a letter yesterday to Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman saying the league won't consider Nevada as an expansion market until after 2018. Sacramento was the third city presenting a bid.

The Las Vegas decision comes as the league is trying to fulfill its pledge to field 24 teams by the year 2020. It has 20 teams now, and is scheduled to add a team in Atlanta in 2017 and revive a failed Los Angeles club that same year.

Garber said last year that MLS expects to make an expansion decision in the first half of this year about the two open slots. So, that leaves Sacramento and Minneapolis. Two cities. Two slots.

The math, though, isn't simple.

Soccer superstar David Beckham exercised his option to purchase an expansion franchise in Miami last year, possibly leaving just a single spot open in the league's 2020 ranks.

Beckham's bid has been beset by stadium problems; however, and it isn't clear when his team might be ready to take the field. He, his investors and Miami officials haven't been able to agree on where to put a new soccer stadium. That could make the team part of the 2020 expansion or part of yet another, later expansion.

Adding to the intrigue: Garber has also mentioned yet more possible hosts in San Antonio and St. Louis.

But the league letter to Las Vegas could still be a good sign for Minneapolis — if the league's short term plans are focused on the suitors that went to New York to make a bid in November. Two ownership groups are contending to win a Minnesota franchise: The Wilf family, which owns the Minnesota Vikings, and the owners of the state's existing pro soccer franchise, the minor league Minnesota United Football Club.

Garber said in October that he considered adding another Midwestern team "a priority."